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The toxicity of petroleum related products threaten human health. Many compounds found in oil are highly toxic and can cause cancer (carcinogenic) as well as other diseases. [23] Studies in Taiwan link proximity to oil refineries to premature births. [26] Crude oil and petroleum distillates cause birth defects. [27]
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has been described as the worst environmental disaster in the United States, releasing about 4.9 million barrels (210 million US gal; 780,000 m 3) of crude oil making it the largest marine oil spill in history. Both the spill and the cleanup efforts had effects on the environment.
The environmental impacts of Natural gas also vary substantially on their extraction processes, much natural gas is a byproduct of heavily polluting petroleum extraction and newer techniques for hydraulic fracturing have made natural gas reserves that were previously unaccusable available, but with many more negative environmental and health ...
An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution.The term is usually given to marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters, but spills may also occur on land.
Petroleum extraction in the Niger Delta has led to many environmental issues. [2] [3] The delta covers 20,000 km 2 (7,700 sq mi) within wetlands, formed primarily by sediment deposition. Home to 20 million people and 40 different ethnic groups, this floodplain makes up 7.5% of Nigeria's total land mass, [4] and is Africa's largest wetland. [5]
The main cause of wildlife exposure to oil is oil spills.Oil spills occur most commonly near oil-shipping routes, pipelines, wells and refineries. [2] Oil spills have a more drastic impact in the late winter and early spring months, because large populations of overwintering birds gather near shores. [2]
Research on the environmental impact of the petroleum industry began in earnest, during the mid to late 20th century, as the oil industry developed and expanded. [5] Large scale transport of crude oil increased as a result of the increasing worldwide demand for oil, subsequently increasing the number of oil spills. [ 5 ]
Petroleum production played a key role in industrialization and economic development. [3] Some countries, known as petrostates, gained significant economic and international power over their control of oil production and trade. Petroleum exploitation can be damaging to the environment and human health.